It’s been two months since 20th District Senate candidate and state Rep. Robert Jones died just weeks before Election
Day from esophageal cancer.

Following Jones’ Oct. 17 death, resolutions and other special honors poured forth, including a decision to have his body lay
in state at Kalamazoo City Hall, where he previously presided as mayor for eight years.

The late Democrat’s public service continues to be remembered.

Earlier this month, state legislators working to get funding for a Kalamazoo Valley Community College culinary institute,
presented it as a building to bear Jones’ name.

Among those legislators was state Rep. Tonya Schuitmaker, Jones’ opponent in the race who won the 20th District seat on Nov. 2 against replacement candidate,
Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell. The effort to get funding for the
project was unsuccessful,
however.

The race for the 20th District Senate was considered among a handful of competitive seats in the Senate. Many predicted it
would be a Republican year and an uphill battle for Democrats, but Jones was popular.

Mark Bugnaski / Gazette fileRep. Robert B. Jones walks to the State House in March, 2009.

Jones had announced he had the esophageal cancer in April 2009, and pundits wondered whether Jones’ health might play a role
as the election season heated up.

When asked about his illness after winning the Democrat primary in August, Jones said, “The main issue is whether or not I
have the energy and strength to run the race and function effectively every day.”

“So far I have shown improvement,” he said.

His frame thinned over time, his voice had weakened to a rasp and he’d lost his trademark handlebar mustache long before because
of cancer treatment.

But he also consistently showed up for back-to-back campaign events, still had bright eyes and demonstrated a sharp insight
when speaking at forums for candidates.

In his eulogy of Jones, the Rev. Addis
Moore, of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, compared the lawmaker’s death to that
of an accomplished
athlete retiring from his sport while still at the top of his
game.